February 3, 2025, marked another competitive evening for German television, showcasing significant viewership across various channels. High ratings were evident as established programs attracted millions of viewers, with themes ranging from climate change awareness to gripping dramas.
One of the standout performances for the evening was ARD's "Wie extrem wird das Wetter, Sven Plöger?" hosted by meteorologist Sven Plöger. The program aired during primetime, pulling in approximately 3.57 million viewers, which resulted in an impressive market share of 13.4%. This showed how even subjects perceived as heavy, such as climate change, could strike a chord with broad audiences. Among the younger viewers aged 14 to 49, the show captured 590,000 viewers, translating to 11.2% market share, making it one of the most watched programs of the night. This recognition of climate issues is particularly significant, demonstrating the public's growing interest and concern about environmental topics.
Following Plöger's documentary, Louis Klamroth hosted the current affairs talk show "Hart aber fair," which also performed admirably, drawing 2.83 million viewers overall and securing market share figures of 11.5%. Even though the numbers dipped compared to Plöger’s show, the fact it performed above the average for many previous broadcasts said something about the strength of the programming on Monday night.
Meanwhile, the ZDF channel maintained its dominance with the drama series "Die Jägerin - Gegen die Wut," which captivated 5.88 million viewers, achieving 22.4% market share—staggering numbers by any measure. Although the younger demographics saw fewer viewers at 6.5%, this program's overall performance cemented its status during the prime time slot as viewers embraced the thrilling storyline.
Rival network RTL also captured substantial audiences with its sensational reality show "Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!" which returned strong ratings with 30.4% market share among the coveted 14-49 demographic. This translated to about 4.05 million total viewers for the show, which significantly overshadowed other programming. Following it, the shows "Die Stunde danach" and "RTL Direkt" continued to deliver impressive figures, with market shares of 21.1% and 19%, respectively, showcasing RTL's successful lineup.
Although it faced strong competition, ZDF's action film "Plane - Absturz im Dschungel" also demonstrated solid ratings later during the evening, gathering approximately 2.37 million viewers, and achieving 16.2% market share among young audiences. This success showed the channel's diverse programming could successfully reach various audience segments.
Yes, it was a vibrant night of television. Channels such as ZDFneo reaped benefits from their lineup, including reruns of the classic detective show "Inspector Barnaby," which saw viewership figures of 1.65 and 1.74 million, leading to market shares comfortably above their usual averages.
The competition between networks seems to have elevated the quality and variety of content offered to viewers, with each channel striving for wider audiences by focusing on what engages them - whether it's drama, reality, or informative content. According to the AGF SCOPE report, February 3, 2025, displayed the potential for significant viewer engagement through programs addressing urgent contemporary issues alongside familiar entertainment formats. This trend not only showcases the status of German television but also suggests the possibility of continuing growth and competition among networks moving forward.